FROM THE ARCHIVES:Another trial of an English suffragette for trying to burn down the Theatre Royal concluded with this prosecution address to the jury. The woman, Mary Leigh, who defended herself, was convicted and sentenced to five years' penal servitude. – JOE JOYCE
Mr. Seymour Bushe said it was quite obvious they were dealing with a woman of rare and peculiar temperament. But although her wit and eloquence must appeal to them and elicit their admiration, yet they could not help feeling they were in the presence of a woman of a very fierce and disordered mind.
The Prisoner: I object, my lord.
Mr. Bushe said her mind was influenced by honest convictions, but it knew no limits, and unless things went her way and were ordered as she wished she would put her back to the wall, defying all authority, and go cheerfully from dock to dock. He could only say that it was a pity that a woman, who might be a valuable aid to society, should lend her influence to such grave disorder. This woman had been trying to justify crime, but since the first man walked the earth nobody had ever known crime adding to the happiness of a nation.
The lady in the dock posed there on a matter of principle, and she was prepared to be a habitual criminal, unless she got everything moulded according to her wishes.
Mr. Asquith [Prime Minister] – unhappy man – wherever he went was followed by those ladies just as they might see a hawk pursued by a troop of jackdaws. He was expected in Ireland on the night of the 18th July, and on the afternoon the quartette [sic] was made up. The object they had in view was to make Mr. Asquith’s visit memorable in an evil sense. Having referred to the acts of the prisoner and her confederates, Counsel said it was only the Providence of God prevented the occurrence from being one of a most appalling occasion of the sacrifice of life and loss of property. He (Mr. Bushe) was no bigot on the subject of women suffrage, but he thought there was a price which was even too high for votes for women.
Mr. Justice Madden then summed up, and remarked that it appeared these ladies had come over there for the purpose of doing something of a startling character in connection with Mr. Asquith’s visit in order to attract attention. Indeed, his lordship observed that it seemed that the outrage was being intended as a huge advertisement for this movement of votes for women.
The Prisoner (excitedly): These crimes will cease when women get votes.
Mr. Justice Madden: Ah, gentlemen, there is the whole thing. There is the key to the whole situation. Crimes will cease when they get the vote. If they don’t get it, what are to be the consequences? Crime, crime. And now , gentlemen, you can understand what was the object of those women in coming over to Ireland on this occasion.
The jury retired, and after a deliberation of about ten minutes, brought in a verdict of guilty on all counts. The prisoner was visibly affected by the verdict.